Extension car-step.



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Pnrntrr BURKE E. FINES, OF NEVPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM H. MINIOK, OF SAME PLACE.

rxrrsnslon CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,897, dated October 16, 1900.

Application flied August 2, 1900- l[Serial No. 25,687. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ wh/0m, t may concern,.-

Beit known that l, BURKE E. PINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Perry and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Extension Oar-Step, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in extension car-steps.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction of extension carsteps and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will be strong and durable and adapted to be readily operated to extend it and to fold it.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an extension car-step adapted to fold compactly against the stationary steps of the car and capable of increasing the strength and durability of the saine.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an extension car-step constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to the stationary steps. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the saine. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of one side of the device, illustrating the construction and arrangement of the ways for guiding the sliding frame to which the extension-step is secured.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 1 designate longitudinal ways arranged at the back of the steps 2 of a car and provided with longitudinal grooves receiving outwardly-extending flanges 3 of side bars 4 of a sliding frame 5, to which an extension-step (3 is secured. The ways 1, which support and reinforce the steps 2, may consist of parallel plates or bars spaced apart to provide the longitudinal grooves and connected at their outer edges or portions preferably by being secured to a bar or strip interposed between them. The slidable frame is composed of the said bars 1l, connecting-bars 6a and 7 and a connecting-piece S, which consists, preferably, of a board adapted to form the riser of the extension-step and located opposite the space between the latter and the lowerrnost car-step, when the extension-step is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. The cross-bar 6 is arranged at the top of the sliding frame, and the other cross-bar is arranged near the center thereof and is provided with perforated ears 9. The lower ends of the side bars 4 of the frame 5 are bent at an angle to form horizontal supporting portions l0, to which the extensionstep 6 is secured, and the said bars 4 are further supported by longitudinal iianges 1 1, arranged at the rear faces of the bars e and extending along the lower portions thereof from a point about midway the distance between the bars Ga and 7 to about the center of the horizontal supporting` portion 10, whereby the extended portions of the side bars 4 are firmly supported. rllhe longitudinal flanges are located between the edges of the bars 4 to enable the same to extend into the grooves oi' the ways 1 and to provide portions for the attachment of the connectingpiece 8. The edges of the connecting-piece are provided with grooves 12 to receive the adjacent portions of the side bars 4, and the lower edge of the connecting-piece 8 is cut away, as shown.

The extension-step is further supported by side slides 14, arranged at opposite sides of the steps 2, and secured at their lower ends to the side edges or ends of the extensionstep. The slides 14 are provided with longitudinal slots 15, receiving fastening devices 16 of the steps 2 and these fastening devices 16 preferably consist of bolts or screws having square heads. In order to prevent the side slides from wearing the sides of the steps 2, the latterare provided with plates 17, which are let into the sides of the steps 2 and have their outer faces flush with the outer faces of the same. The side slides are also supported by iianges 18, extending outward from the sides of the steps 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The perforated ears 9 of the cross-bar 7 of the sliding frame are connected by a pair of links 20 with intermediate arms `21 of a rockshaft 22, which is journaled in suitable hearings 23 of V-shaped brackets or supports 24,

mounted on the ways l at the opposite sides of the car-steps 2. One end of the shaft is extended `to form a crank or arm 25 and is connected by a link 26 with the lower arm of an operating-lever 27, and the latter, which is fulcrumed between its ends at 28, extends through an opening of the top step or platform and is provided at its upper end with a handle. The opening of the top step or platform is surrounded by a ange 29 of a plate 30, and the flange 29 is provided at opposite sides of the opening with shoulders 31,

arranged to be engaged by aspring-actuated pawl or detent 32, mounted on the upper portion of the operating-lever. The spring-actuated pawl ordetent is provided near its engaging end with a loop for embracing the lever, and its upper end is connected with a latch-lever 36, having ears which embrace the operating-lever. The ears of the latchlever are perforated for the reception of a rivet or other suitable pivot, and a spring 37, which is secured to the latch-lever, engages the operating-lever and holds the pawl or detent in engagement with the shoulders of the flange of the plate 30. The pawl or detent engages the said shoulders when the eX- tension-step is raised or folded, and it prevents the same from being accidentally thrown downward by the vibration of a train. When the operatinglever is osoillated, the shaft is rocked and the intermediate arms thereof are swung upward and downward,

whereby the sliding frame and the extension; step are raised and lowered.

It will be seen that the extension step is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily applied to the steps of a' car, and that it is eompactly arranged out of the way when it is not in use, and increases the strength and durability of the car-steps.

The combination with the stationary steps of a car provided at the top with a slot and having a flange surrounding the opening and provided at opposite sides with shoulders, of ways arranged at the back of the steps at opposite sides thereof, the sliding frame mount-ed in the ways, the extension-step carried by the sliding frame, a rock-shaft journaled in suitable bearings and provided with arms 2l and 25, a link connecting the arm 2l with the sliding frame, a lever fulcrumed on the car-steps and extending through the slot and provided with a locking device for engaging the said shoulders, and a link connecting the lever with the arm 25, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BURKE E, PINES.

Witnesses:

W. T. HANEY, W. A. MEMINGER. 

